Double release safety buckle



6 Aff M 93 3K R W uw z mm, o .91; 7 N m o, g n i. 9 2 6 2 m z n 01 2 d n 3 Cm 4/HS E l ma E J/llllll n Mv. rv f .M -h Nh m 1 .DHHIAHE M. f T B e 2 4 2 E w.. w s Kx on uw m 5 .fm1/VVV /s/VV/r K m s, 2 y 2 ,l 5 7 a m m u @W Q w wf E l M N 6 73 a; x ||Ht 9 E E A 3 0I\3 S wm M wl m C. m m.. W f ,M pm W l w 5| 2 D l L f .IIIIHIIHHHH' w m w M United rates The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government for governmental purposes without the payment to us of any royalty thereon.

This invention relates to a double release safety buckle and more particularly to a buckle used with straps, harness, etc., that cannot be accidentally opened, and having operating releases located on the sides thereof.

The present invention includes a tongue locked by a pair of spring-loaded pivoted levers in a buckle and to open the buckle it is necessary to pivot both levers inwardly from the sides of the buckle before the tongue can be released.

It is .therefore a primary object of this invention to provide a buckle incorporating a pair of releasing members that cannot release the tongue of the buckle unless both releases are operated simultaneously.

Another object of the invention is to provide safety features in a buckle so that it will open only when the wearer intends it.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a quick release buckle that is durable, inexpensive and dependable.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter become more fully apparent from the following description of the drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment thereof and wherein:

FIG. l is a top plan view of the buckle of the invention in locked relation;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal cross section taken along line 2 2 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 3 is a section taken along line 3 3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a cross section taken along line 4 4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a detail section of lthe buckle and is taken along line 5 5 of FIG. 3, the tongue and levers being lef-t out to show structural features;

FIG. 6 is a top plan View of the tongue per se; and FIG. 7 isa perspective view of one of the locking levers.

Referring now to the drawing in which, as best seen in FIG. 2, the buckle is indicated generally by 1 and consists of a substantially U-shaped housing 2 Ihaving a bottorn wall 3, a top wall 4 spaced from said bottom wall and an end wall 5. Housing 2 further includes a centrally disposed integral partition 6 extending inwardly from end wall 5, and provided with aligned, opposite recesses 7 yand `8. A key 9 is disposed centrally of and integral with the bottom wall '3l and extends from the open end of housing 2 to the inward end of partition 6, as best seen in FIG. 5. A pair of holes 10 is provided near the edges of both bottom wall '3l and top wall 4. End wall 5 is provided with a bore 11 and inwardly extending short projections 12 and 13.

A tongue, best viewed in FIGS. 2 and 6 is generally indicated by 14 and includes a solid body portion 15. Body 15 denes a beveled nose 16 which has a narrow flat face 17 at -its frontal end and a rearward reduced portion 18. Reduced portion 18 forms a pair of shoulders 19 and 20 and is also provided with a bore 21 near the end thereof. A keyway 22 is formed centrally in the bottom side of body 15 for receiving key 9 of buckle 1 when the tongue is inserted into housing 2.

A pair of identical lever-s 23, one of which is shown separately in FIG. 7, are provided to lock the tongue 14 in housing 2. Each lever is serrated as at 36 and has an arcuate end 25. Holes 26 are provided for insertion of pivot pins 27 when the levers 23 are assembled in pivotal relation in housing 2.

Springs 28 are provided to normally force the levers 23 outwardly when the buckle is assembled and are housed at their respective ends in recesses 7 and 8 in partition 6 and in recesses 29 in levers 23.

Levers 23 are provided with integral tips 30 for engagement with projections 12 and 13 on end wall 5 and act as stops to limit their outward movement.

The buckle 1 is assembled to straps or the like, 31 and 62 by metal loops 33 and 34 which are retained in bore 21 and 11 respectively. (See FIG. 2.)

When buckling which is an extremely simple operation, the tongue 14 is inserted, the beveled portion 16 foremost, into housing 2 between walls 3 and 4, and the keyway 22 is slid over key 9 to prevent lateral displacement of the tongue.

The beveled portion 16 of ltongue 14 will bear against a rounded portion 35 on each latch portion 24 and pivot latch portions 24 of the levers outwardly in said housing as seen in dotted lines in FIG. 2.

Upon continued insertion into the housing, flat face 17 will be in a position adjacent the inner end of extension 6 and springs 28 will then bias levers 23 to move the latch portions inwardly in the housing 2, whereupon latch portions 24, will engage the shoulders 18 and 19 on tongue 14.

The locking opera-tion is entirely automatic and is done with ya minimum of effort by the operator. To release the tongue from the buckle 1, it is necessary that both levers 23 will be pressed inwardly by using two fingers, one on the serrated portion 36 of one lever and another iinger on the serrated portion 36 of the 4other lever, which causes -levers 23 to pivot about pivot pins 27 whereupon latch portions 24 are moved away from shoulders 18 and 19 and the tongue being released may be withdrawn from housing 2. The arcuate edge 25 is for provid-ing clearance when the levers 22 are rotated.

Tongue 15 is of a thickness substantially equal to the space provided between bottom wall 3 and top wall 4 and together with the key 9 in keyway 22, no movement of the tongue is permitted while in locked position in the buckle housing 2.

It is apparent then, from the foregoing, that a highly reliable, durable and fool-proof buckle has been devised. The uses of the buckle are broad and it can be utilized on weapon straps, packages, etc.

Accidental unbuckling is prevented should the buckle receive a 'force on only one lever as the force must be applied to both levers at the same time to release the tongue.

Variations and modifications may be effected without departing from the scope of the novel concept of the present invention.

What is claimed is:

A `double release safety buckle comprising the combination of a U-shaped housing having a top wall, an opposite bottom wall and an end wall joining said opposite walls, a pair of rearwardly extending tips integral, one each with the outer edges of the inner side of said end wall, top wall and b-ottom wall, and a central partition integral with the inner side of said end wall, top wall and bottom wall, and extending `for a distance rearwardly therefrom, said partition having a flat rearward face and a pair of aligned, oppositely arranged recesses therein, a key disposed centrally of and integral with ysaid bottom wall and extending from the open end of said U-shaped housing to the inner end of said partition, a solid tongue defining a beveled nose portion, said nose portion having aandoen .'5 a iat forward face and a rearward reduced portion, said last named portion forming a pair of shoulders, there fbeing a keyway integral with the Ibottom side of said tongue and disposed centrallythereon, said key on said` bottom wall of said U-Shaped yhousingadapted to be reeeived in said keyway on said tongue and said at forward face on said nose portion of said tongue adapted tot abut lsaid ilat .face of said partition vwhen said tongue is inserted fully into said U-shaped housing, a pair of diametrioally spaced, identical levers pivotally mounted between said bottom and top walls of said U-shaped housing, each lever having a latch portion at its rearward end for engagement with a respective shoulder on said tongue, and a vforwardly extending projection on each forward end of each of said levers for engagement with said rearwardly extend-ing tip on said end wall of said U-shaped housing, there being a recess in the forward portion of the bottom side of each lever and a coil spring having its ends reeeived in said recesses on each side of said partition and each recess yin each lever, said springs normally biasing said levers in `an outward direction whereby said latch portions on said lever are held in locked engagement with said shoulders on said tongue.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 308,768 Hazen Dec. 2, 1884 2,518,889 Henderson Aug. l5, 1950 2,739,361 Elsner Mar. 27, 1956 2,847,748 Robinton Aug. 19, 1958 2,902,737 Moran Sept. 8, 1959 2,942,897 Eason June 28, 1960 2,988,797 Gaylord June 20,*196-1 

